Bottling-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

.WQ PMNTBR. BOTTLING MACHINE.

No. 438,708. Patented oct. 21, 1890.

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(No Model.)

2 ASheets-Sham 2.

W, PAINTBR. x BOTTLKING MACHINE.

Patented out. 21, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM PAINTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BOTTLING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,708, dated October21, 1890.

Application filed October 1, 18877. Serial No. 251,171. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM PAINTER, of Baltimore, in the State ofMaryland, have invented new and useful Improvements inBottling-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a fulland accurate description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a front vertical sectionalelevation of my machine. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a sidevertical elevation of. the saine. Fig. e is a side elevatiom'partly insection, of thecorking devices. Fig. 5 is a front central section of thebottling devices, including the corking mechanism in initial position.Fig; 6 is a front central section of the corking device in the positionassumed during bottle-filling. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section throughthe snift-valve. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the corker enlarged.Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the sni'fter-bell. Fig. 10 is a plan ofthe same. Fig. 1l is a perspective View of one of my stopper-disks. Fig.l2 represents the same in the form it assumes in' the bottle-mouth.

Disk Stoppers such as shown in my patent, No. 327,099, dated September29, 1885, are formed of disks of suitable elastic material, which, beingcompressed circumferentially, assume an arched or dome-shaped form, andwhen inserted in the bottle-mouth with the convex side inward and theconcave side outward and the edge resting in an int-eriorcircumferential groove in the bottle-mouth, the resiliency of thematerial causes the edge to press outwardly into said groove. Thereforepressure against the convex side is translated int-o lateral pressure,so that such a stopper will remain in its place and resist internalpressure in accordance with the mechanical principles which control theaction of an arch, as fully set forth in said patent.

The principal object of my invention is to facilitate the insertion ofsaid Stoppers, and

in connection therewith to fill the bottles with effervescing liquidsWithout the usual waste in shifting. A further object is to simplify thegeneral machinery.

The following description and claims will fully distinguish the pointsof the invention. A is a bottle provided with the internal Y .I I grooveo. in its mouth, adapted to receive the edge of the disk-stopper B, suchas is describedand claimed in my patent above referred to, and shownherein in Figs. ll and l2. The rst part of my invention refers tomechanism for inserting said Stoppers, which are prepared beforehand inthe form of disks, as described in my patent referred to. I provide aholder for the bottle and a tapering throat-piece 2, litted in a properholder or head stock for the same. (See Fig.'8.) At its upper end thisthroat-piece is equal to the diameter of the disk B, and at its lowerend its diameter equals the diameter of the bottle-mouth, and it isprovided with a slightly- 'projecting sharp-edged ledge 48, (see Fig.8,)

to facilitate the passage of the stopper from the throat 2 into themouth of the bottle. This ledge or lip also assists in accuratelycentering the bottle-mouth With the throat. The disk B is laid in theupper end of the throat-piece, as shown in Fig. 5, and is thereafterforced. down through said tapering throat into the bottle-mouth. Itsmovement through the contracting passage of said throat causes it to becompressed edgewise and arched, and the friction against the wall of thethroat will so retard the edges that the disk will invariably assume adownward con- Vexity. vVhen the disk has passed through the throat 2into the mouth of the bottle, its resiliency causes it to expand intothe groove l), from which it cannot be expelled by the internal pressuredistributed evenly over its convex surface. l

To force the disk down through the tapered throat 2, a collapsibleplunger' or piston is employed. A collapsible plunger is desirable,because it is necessary that it shall pass through the smaller end ofthe throat 2, and if it does not also fill said throat at the larger endthere is liability that the edge of the disk will be squeezed betweenthe plunger andthe throat. I have made a satisfactory plunger 3 byslitting a tube of proper size-2'. e., having a diameter equal to thelarger end of the throat 2. The slits are, say, eight in number, andthey extendasufficient distance to make the plunger-fingers thus formedlong enough to possess the desired degree of elasticity. Such aplungeris shown IOO in longitudinal section in Fig. 8 and in elevation in Fig.5. The disk B beinglaid upon the upper end of the throat 2, the plunger3 is caused to descend. The slitted end of said plunger engages the diskall around at its extreme edge and forces it bodily down through saidthroat, the end of the plunger following down the taper of the throat,collapsing as it goes and following the disk until it rests in thegroove b.

In the machine shown in the drawings the plunger 3 is attached to a yoke4, which is attached at its ends to side rods 5 5, the lower ends ofwhich are connected with a yoke 6, provided with a treadle 8, to whichthe operators foot may be applied to depress the plunger, and a strongspring 7 to raise it again after having been depressed. This is theessential apparatus whereby the Stoppers are inserted in the bottle, andit includes all that is necessary when the bottles contain still liquidsor those which become eifervescent after being stoppered.

For liquids which are effervescent at the time of bottling, and whichare therefore bottled under pressure, additional devices are required. Itherefore provide another yoke 9, with a head-stock 49, in which thethroatpiece 2 is carried, and for convenience the yoke 9 is mounted onthe same guide-rods 5 5 which carry yoke 4. The rods 5, however, passfreely through said yoke, their relative movement being limited in onedirection by the shoulders 10 on the rods 5, and in the other directionby engagement with yoke 4. A strong spring 12 is introduced between inthe head-stock 49 to keep the yoke 9 normally in contact with shoulders10, or the weight of yoke 9 and its attachments may in some cases besuicient to keep yoke 9 down against the shoulders 10. The effect ofthis is to make both yokes operative by the same treadle. A bottlehaving been put in position, depression of the treadle 8 brings bothyokes down together. The throat-piece 2 and yoke 9 are arrested when theformer encounters the bottle; but the spring 12 then yields, and yoke 4,with the plunger 3, continues to descend until the stopper has beenforced into position in the bottle-mouth. At the proper moment-that is,when the stopper has been forced exactly to the right distance-theplunger is arrested by the engagement of the yokes 4 and 9, and thispoint of arrest is correctly ascertained and determined by properadjustment.

For the proper protection of the spring 12 and plunger 3, I provide atthe middle of the yoke 4 a hollow cylindrical hood 13, to the top ofwhich the plunger 3 is rigidly secured. I also provide at the middle ofyoke 9 a cylindrical sleeve 14, which constitutes the upper end of thehead-stock 49. It enters and slides within said hood. The plunger 3 andspring 12 are inclosed, concealed, and protected by this telescopic case13 14, and the downward motion of yoke and plunger is gaged andcushioned by a rubber ring 19, protected by a ring of brass 2O andwashers of thin metal for adjustment.

The pump or other means for conveying liquid under pressure to themachine is coupled to the inlet-pipe 15, and the flow into and throughsaid inlet is controlled by a proper valve, (not shown,) but convenientto the operators hand. The liquid to be passed into the bottle passesfrom the inlet 15 to the annular chamber 16 and thence through the ports17 into the throat 2 and down into the bottle, the stopper B havingpreviously been forced into the upper end of the throat down nearly tothe ports, as shown in Fig. 8, so as to preventthe escape of liquidupward through the throat.

The ports 17 in the throat are made highly oblique, as shown, so thatthe stopper will slide easily over such ports. The throat 2 is madecylindrical at the place where the ports 17 enter, so that the Stoppersmay pass over said ports without suffering any additional compressionand consequent abrasion.

At the bottom of throat 2 there is an elastic gasket 18 to close aroundthe bottle-head. It is necessary, however, that the bottle shall comeinto contact with the throat-piece, bccause the descent of the plungerinto the bottle-neck must be gaged quite exactly, in order that thestopper-disk may be pushed fully into its seat, but not forced down pastthe shoulder d at the lower side of the groove b. Therefore the gasket18 is made thin and undercut, as at 22. This makes the gasket moreyielding, so as to accommodate varying sizes of bottle-heads. passbehind this thin edge will tend to make it close the more tightly aroundthe bottlehead.

When bottling fluids under pressure, it is required that the connection-between the bottle and the source of supply shall be practicallyair-tight. To this end the disk B is forced part way down the throat 2to close the same at the top, while the gasket 18 closes it below whenin contact with the bottle, as shown in Figs. 4, 6, and S. Under theseconditions fluid will pass into the bottle A until the air therein hasbeen compressed and the pressure in the bottle has become equal to thepressure of service. There will still remain the original quantity ofair in the bottle, and it is necessary to permit this to cscape. This iscalled snifting To accomplish it, it is necessary to open the escape-waysuddenly and close it again quickly, so that the confined air willescape with a gush be- IOC Gas and liquid which may IIO fore thesuperior inertia of the heavier liquid 2O to the bottling-machine hereindescribed, be-

- B may be pushedl by the finger.

tity of .fluid lost in that'way is material and hasbeenestimated ataboutten percent. I prevent all such waste by a snifting-valve and duct whichwill convey the wasting iiuid to a bottle properly located and next inorder for filling, so that the iiuid escaping in snifting one bottleenters another placed alongside of it. By thus snifting into the bottlenext to be illed practically all atmospheric air is expelled and itsplace occupied by the snifted liquid and the heavy carbonio-acid gasdisengaged therefrom. Vhen, therefore, the second bottle is removed tothe fillinghead, it is chieiiy occupied by such gas instead of by air.It is found by experience that beverages bottled in this manner have amuch better quality and stability.

It is to be understood that I do not limit the use of my method ofsaving the snift by discharging it into the next bottle to be filledcause it is evident that this part of my invention is also adapted toordinary corking or bottling machines. To this end I make alateral port23, which communicates with the chamber 16 by the passage 24, and closesaid port with valve 25. The yoke 9 is provided with alaterally-extending lug 26, to the extremity of which I pivot one arm ofthe lever 27, conveniently made T-shaped, with the handle end extendedparallel with the inlet-pipe l5 and the. free arm in engagement with thevalve 25. The handle end is then at a point close to the inletfvalve orpump, so that the same hand which manages one may manage the other also.This leaves one hand free to handle the bottles and disk Stoppers.

vThe snitting-passage communicates with a short nozzle 28, Fig. 6, whichdischarges downward into a second bott-le placed below it for thatpurpose, and to properly center said bottle a bell 29 is attached to thehead-stock 49, concentric with said nozzle, so that as the yoke isbrought down if the bottle does not stand exactly central as to thenozzle its head will be pushed over by the bell toward its center, sothat it will receive the snift from the nozzle 28.

An opening 30 is made in the side of the head-stock 49, immediately atthe upper end of the throat-piece 2, through which the disk When theplunger descends, it passes by this opening, and as the stopper descendspast the ports 17 the small quantity of Iiuid remaining in the pipe l5between said ports and inlet-valve under service-pressure will be thrownout and upward through the throat and outward through the opening 30, ifthe same should be open. To prevent this and cause said expelled waterto pass upward into the tube 14 and hood 13,Iplace a sleeve '31,Fig. 8,around the lower end of the plunger 3 and make the extremities of theplunger-fingers with shoulders 32 to engage the lower end of said sleeveand pull it up when the plunger rises out of the throat 2. A spring 34serves to keep the sleeve down upon said shoulders until arrested bycontact with the top of the throatpiece 2, when the plunger descends, asshown in Fig. Si. The expelled fluid which is thrown up into the hood 13:is at liberty to escape through a channel 35 behind said sleeve into aduct which communicates with the sniftnozzle, so that all the wastefluidI is saved, and lat the same time splashing from the opening 30 isprevented.

The snift-valve is held to its seat by means of a spring 36, which bearsupon the lever 27, and the tension of said spring may be changed at willby a screw, so that the pressure on the valve 25 shall exceed theservice-pressure.

As hereinbefore stated, it is necessary to bring the lower end of thethroat-piece down in contact with the bottle, and to prevent breakage ofbottles by the sudden contact of metal and glass I employ the cushion19, protected by a metal plate 2O in the top of the hood 13, and place asimilar cushion or rubber ring 37 below the bottle in a recess in thebottling-table and cover itwith a metal plate 50, the surface of whichis flush with thetop of said table. These cushions afford adequateelasticity and prevent cracking the glass when the downward thrust ofthe plunger is suddenly arrested by contact of the top of the cylinderor head-stock with the interior of the hood.

To facilitate the handling of the bottles, I have made a U-shaped gage38, the diameter inside being a little greater than the diameter of thebottles which are being filled and the length of the arms being abouttwo of such diameters. The exterior edge of said gage has three notchesto engage the same number of pins 39 set in the table, and these pinshold the gage accurately in place and permit its ready removal. Whenbottles of different sizes are used, as half-pints, pints, or quarts,different ,gages 38 are used, each being adapted to bottles of aparticular size; but the exterior edges which engage the pins 39 may bethe same in all. This gage not only centers the bottle under the throat,but also guides the second bottle under the snifting-nozzle.

Bottles of different diameters require corresponding changes in theposition of the bell 29 and shifter-nozzle 2S. I therefore mount theseparts eccentrically on a circular plate 40, which is secured in acorresponding recess and may rotate therein to move said nozzle and belltoward or away from the throatpiece 2.

The throat-piece 2 is made of bronze, with a facing of steel at thelower end for durability, where it comes in contact with the glass ofthe bottle, and it is made to be readily removable for repairs orreplacement with another.

To construct a compact and convenient bottling-machine, I make the baseand pillar in one hollow casting of iron 40, having near the bottoma'fulcum-'place for the treadle 8,

IOO

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I I-S and at the top two vertical sleeve-guides 41 for the side rods 5.The yoke 6 and spring 7 are therefore inclosed and concealed within saidpillar. To make the table adjustable to accommodate bottles of differentheights, I provide a hood 42, the open end of which (its over and slidesupon the upper part of the column 40. The closed end constitutes thebottling-table. It is provided with two holes, through which the guides41 pass and act as guides for said hood, and with a recess to receivethe rubber ring 37 and its protecting-plate 50. The hood 42 is supportedupon the upper elbow of the rod 43, which passes through an adjustingscrew-wheel 44, located between two lugs cast on the pillar 40 andhaving its edge projecting through a slot in the side of said pillar tobe accessible to the hand for the adjustment up `or down of the hood 42.A set-screw 45 serves to hold the hood tightly when it has reached theproper height. The shelves 46 serve to hold the empty bottles on onehand and the filled bottles on the other. They are rigidly attached tothe hood and go up or down with it.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a machine for insertingelastic disk Stoppers, the tapering throat 2, combined with acollapsible plunger.

2. In a machine for inserting elastic disk Stoppers, a tapering throat2, combined with plunger 3, slitted longitudinally to enable it tocollapse as it passes through said throat.

3. In a machine for inserting elastic disk Stoppers, a tapering throat2, a collapsible plunger, and a stop to limit the movement of saidplunger as to the amount of its protrusion from said throat.

4. Combined with bottle A, provided with an internal groove 6 in themouth, which has an inwardly-inclined circular surface for the abutmentof the edge of an arched disk stopper, a tapering throat 2, for causingthe stopper to assume the arched form, a collapsible plunger, and a stopconnected with the same, whereby when said throat rests upon said bottlethe plunger will be arrested when it has entered the bottle the exactdistance required to deliver the stopper in said groove.

5. In a machine for inserting disk Stoppers, a tapering throat 2,mounted in a carriage capable of reciprocating in the line of thebottles axis, a collapsible plunger mounted on a carriage capable ofreciprocating in the same plane, a spring to keep said carriagesnormally separated, and a stop to limit the approach of said carriagesto each other.

6. The combination, in a bottling-machine, of a table and operativetreadle, the side rods 5, connected with said treadle, the yoke 4,rigidly fastened to said rods, the yoke 9, mounted to slide on saidrods, with stops 10 to limit the motion in one direction, a taperingthroat 2 in the head-stock 49, attached to yoke 9, and a collapsibleplunger 3, attached to yoke 4, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, in a bottling-machine for inserting disk stoppers,of a tapering throat-piece 2, adapted to make hard contact with thebottle-top, aplunger to force the stopper through said throat, anelastic cushionstop 19 to arrest the motion of the plunger without hardshock, and acushion 37 beneath the bottle.

8. In combination, in a bottling-machine adapted to fill bottles witheervescing liquids, a tapering throat 2, having inlet-ports 17, acollapsible plunger 3,acutoff sleeve 31, and a gasket whereby the escapeof said liquid is prevented, substantially as described.

9. In combination, in a machine for bottling eifervescing liquids, atapering throat 2, having ports 17, mounted in a head-stock 49, providedwith an opening 30, and a tubular sleeve 14, a hood 13, tted to slideover said sleeve, a plunger mounted in said hood 13, a cut-oft sleeve 31to close said opening 30, and a gasket 1S, made yielding, so as to closearound the neck of the bottle while still permittin g the throat-pieceto make contact with the bottle, as set forth.

10. In a machine for bottling eifervescing liquids, a filling-headhaving an inlet for the liquid and provided with an elastic gasket"adapted to fit the mouth of the bottle, a sniftpassage leading fromsaid inlet, a snift-valve controlling said passage, and asnitt-discharge provided with a centering bell or hood, whereby it isadapted to deliver the snift into a second bottle as the first isfilled, as and for the purposes set forth.

11. The combinatiomwith the filling duct and nozzle, of a snift-passageleading therefrom, a valve for controlling the same, and a snift :nozzleor discharge adjustable relative to the first nozzle to accommodatedifferent diameters of bottles, substantially as set forth.

12. The tapered throat-piece 2, provided with a lateral flange near itslower end and made cylindrical externally at its upper end and providedwith ports 17 at its middle, combined with a head-stock 49, having arecess iitted to receive said cylindrical end and said flange andconstitute an annular chamber 16 between them, and a liquid-inlet 15,discharging into said chamber.

13. The combination, with the main bottling-throat, the liquid-ducts,and the plunger, of the snift-valve 25, the passage 23, and nozzle 28,combined with a centering-bell 29, for the purpose of centering thebottle-mouth as to the nozzle 28.

14. In a bottling-machine, the combination, with the main bottle-fillingdevices, of the shift-passage 23, nozzle 28, bell 29, and an eccentricplate 40, whereon said bell is mounted for adjustment by revolution ofsaid plate.

15. In combination with the inlet-pipe 15 and its controlling-valve, thesniftpassage 23,snift-valve 25, and the valve-lever 27, ex-

tended to a point in immediate proximity with the said controlling-valveof the inlet 15, whereby both of said valves may be oper- IOO ated byone hand and the other left free to handle the bottles and Stoppers,substantially as set forth.

16. In a bottling-machine, the hollow pillar 40, provided with thetubular guides 4l at the top, the guide-rods 5, carrying the yokes 4 and9 at their top, and the treadlc 8 to operate the same, combined withmovable hood 42 to constitute a bottling-table adjustable as to height.

17. The hollow pillar 40,provided with tubular guides 4l,the rods 5 5,connected at top with the yokes 4 and 9 and at the bottom with the yoke6, the treadle 8, and retracting-spring 7, combined with the hood 42,adjustable as to height on said pillar.

18. The hollow pillar 40, with guides for the side rods 5 5, the yokes 4and 9, connected with said rods and carrying the fluid-inlet andstopper-inserting devices, combined with the hood 42 and the adjustablesupportingrod 43, engaging said hood at its center.

19. The combination, in a bottling-machine, of a supporting-pillar 40, atable 42, an operative treadle, and the side rods 5 5, with the yoke 4,rigidly fastened to said rods, the yokes 9, and head-stock 49, mountedt'o slide on said rods, stops to limit their motion, a tapering throat2, attached to said headstock,a collapsible plunger attached to saidyoke 4, retracting-sprin'gs 12 and 34, and sleeve 3l, substantially asset forth.

20. In combination with abottling-machine adapted to ill bottles witheffervescing liquids, a tapering throat 2, having inlet-ports 17, acollapsible plunger 3, and a cut-olf sleeve 3l, whereby the escape ofliquid is prevented.

21. In combination in a machine for bottling efervescing liquids, atapering throat 2, having ports 17, a head-stock 49, wherein said throatand ports are located, a lateral opening 30 to permit the Stoppers to beinserted, a plunger to force the stopper through said throat, and asleeve 31 to close said stopperopening against the escape of liquid whensaid stopper has moved past said ports.

22. In a bottling-machine, the combination, with the main bottle-fillingdevices, of the snift-passage 23, valve 25, the nozzle 2S, and bell29,adjustable as to distance from the throat 2, substantially asdescribed.

23. In a bottling-machine for effervescing beverages, the bottle fillingmechanism, a waste or snift duct, a controlling-valve for the same, anozzle for discharging the waste, combined with a holder by said nozzlefor maintaining a second bottle in close proximity to the bottle beingfilled and under said nozzle, whereby the Waste is discharged into saidsecond bottle, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM PAINTER.

Witnesses:

R. D. O.SM1TH, J. B. MCGIRR.

